Proactive IT support and data protection for a business where downtime is not an option
How ECS Computers supports Mr Hugh’s with proactive IT support, secure backups, cloud migration and cyber security for a farming and manufacturing business where operations rely on IT every day.
What matters most
“if i had to describe ecs in one sentence, it would be they are there when needed”
For Mr Hugh’s, that reliability matters because their business depends on IT systems being available, secure and recoverable when needed.
The challenge
Mr Hugh’s is a farming and manufacturing business where IT supports daily operations across orders, production management, finance and communication with both suppliers and customers.
If systems stop, the business stops.
The business relies on access to systems throughout the year. Any downtime would impact operations, communication and the ability to manage production.
The business also handles customer, supplier, financial and employee data that must be protected at all times.
The ECS approach
ECS has supported Mr Hugh’s for over 15 years, providing ongoing support and improvements as the business has evolved.
The environment has moved from fully on-premise systems to a hybrid setup, now transitioning fully to cloud with ECS migrating the environment, integrating a leased line for fast cloud access in a rural location, and deploying MDR across Microsoft 365 and devices.
What mattered most
- Keeping systems running throughout the year
- Protecting customer, supplier, financial and employee data
- Ensuring data can be restored when needed
- Supporting secure remote access
- Improving cloud access in a rural location
How ECS supports Mr Hugh’s
- Proactive monitoring and patching
- Secure remote desktop access
- Off-site cloud backups
- Microsoft 365 security
- Cloud migration and connectivity planning
Security and data protection
ECS has implemented a layered approach to security and resilience, helping protect systems, users and data across the business.
Proactive monitoring and alerts across key systems.
Keeping systems secure, stable and up to date.
Endpoint protection across managed devices.
Managed detection and response across devices and Microsoft 365.
Email and cloud services for day to day operations.
Protection against phishing, viruses and email based threats.
Stronger access control for users and systems.
Network protection for the business environment.
Cloud backups with strong retention and protection once uploaded.
Secure RDS access for working away from site when needed.
Moving from hybrid systems to a fully cloud based environment.
Improving cloud access and reliability in a rural location.
All servers are backed up with strong retention, and backups cannot be modified once uploaded, helping protect against data loss, corruption and ransomware related incidents.
Proactive support in action
ECS uses monitoring and alerts to identify issues early, often before the customer notices any impact.
After patching, the remote desktop server met ECS minimum disk space threshold. It was not critically low, but it was moving in the wrong direction.
The monitoring system triggered customer tailored disk cleanup tasks, freeing enough space to keep the server out of the red.
ECS picked up the alert 4 minutes after starting work, rechecked the server and reviewed the cleanup tasks.
ECS found a Sage Accounting backup issue where more backups were being kept than configured, then fixed the issue before the server caused disruption.
Without proactive monitoring, this issue would have been unlikely to be found early. The remote desktop server continued running and Mr Hugh’s systems carried on without interruption.
Results and outcomes
ECS has helped Mr Hugh’s maintain reliable systems, protect important data and prepare for a more cloud based future.
Systems remain stable and available for farming, production, finance and communication.
Layered protection helps reduce exposure to viruses, hacking attempts and unauthorised access.
Off-site cloud backups help ensure important business data can be restored if needed.
Proactive monitoring and secure backups help keep the business operating when issues arise.
Secure remote desktop access allows staff to work away from site when required.
The move to cloud and leased line connectivity supports faster, more reliable access in a rural setting.
What Mr Hugh’s said
“The challenges mr hughs have are ensuring data systems are reliable and not attacked by viruses of one sort or another”
“Making sure people are not trying hack them”
“We guard our customers data very carefully and the security of that is of the utmost importance”
“ECS as a company have been very helpful not least because they put computer speak into english”
“Being able to restore data is important”
“Being able to work from home is valuable”
“Like any business, our business is run through it, if it stops we would stop”
“If i had to describe ecs in one sentence, it would be they are there when needed”
Reliable IT. Secure data. Systems that keep the business running.
ECS helps Mr Hugh’s protect important data, reduce cyber risk and keep business critical systems available through proactive, security led IT support.